My Books

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

If You Could Read My Mind

Today, I'm grieving because a wonderful, wonderful time of my life is ending.

This was my job for the past five years. I taught Musical and Theater at a high school in our neighborhood. The pic was taken just before last year's show, and you can see we are all happy about what we achieved in a year of hard rehearsing. The kids are proud of themselves, and rightly so. Nearly all of them are from migrant or socially challenged homes and learned, in this class, for the first time how great they are and what they really can achieve if they just believe in themselves. I invested many hours, many weekends, many extra hours in this project.

And it was MY project, right from the start. I brought it to this school, first as a volunteer, then paid a pittance (200$ for 16 hours a month, when I really worked at least triple that time). I didn't mind because I loved it.

We all loved it. And we worked hard.

Here is my son Mario, singing Neil Diamond's "I'm A Believer".

He is not a student at that school but a young medical doctor, but he enjoyed working with us so much he just took to the stage after helping us set up the light and sound for the show.

And here's my other kid, playing his role as announcer, with Bryan.

I'm not free to say why I had to quit the job, of course. There is a confidentiality agreement in my contract that makes me feel like I used to work for Stargate Command. That's ok. Let me just say, working with that school administration has become impossible due to mutual distrust, and too much anger on my side. I threw the job in their faces. At some point you've just taken enough, and then it is time to let go.

I will let go of my worries and watch them sail away like ships in the night. They will simply leave, and I will not even listen to their horns calling out in the darkness.

It was a great time. The kids taught me much, and I hope I helped them find joy in an otherwise often dreary life. and now it is over.

The happy author on the porch. Books: The Distant Shore, January 2012, IPPY Bronze Medalist in 2012 "Under The Same Sun", October 2012, IPPY Silver Medal 2013. "Song Of The Storm, July 2013. Waiting for a Song, published June 2014, The Rosewood Guitar, published February 2015. All published by Buddhapuss Ink LLC, NJ

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About Me

The happy author on the porch. Books: The Distant Shore, January 2012, IPPY Bronze Medalist in 2012 "Under The Same Sun", October 2012, IPPY Silver Medal 2013. "Song Of The Storm, July 2013. Waiting for a Song, published June 2014, The Rosewood Guitar, published February 2015. All published by Buddhapuss Ink LLC, NJ